Not so long ago and in a pasture too uncomfortably close to here, a flock ofsheep lived and grazed. They were protected by a dog, who answered to themaster, but despite his best efforts from time to time a nearby pack ofwolves would prey upon the flock.

One day a group of sheep, bolder than the rest, met to discuss theirdilemma. "Our dog is good, and vigilant, but he is one and the wolves aremany. The wolves he catches are not always killed, and the master judges andreleases many to prey again upon us, for no reason we can understand. Whatcan we do? We are sheep, but we do not wish to be food, too!"

One sheep spoke up, saying "It is his teeth and claws that make the wolf soterrible to us. It is his nature to prey, and he would find any way to doit, but it is the tools he wields that make it possible. If we had suchteeth, we could fight back, and stop this savagery." The other sheepclamored in agreement, and they went together to the old bones of the deadwolves heaped in the corner of the pasture, and gathered fang and claw andmade them into weapons.

That night, when the wolves came, the newly armed sheep sprang up with theirweapons and struck at them, crying, "Begone! We are not food!" and drove offthe wolves, who were astonished. When did sheep become so bold and sodangerous to wolves? When did sheep grow teeth? It was unthinkable!

The next day, flush with victory and waving their weapons, they approachedthe flock to pronounce their discovery. But as they drew nigh, the flockhuddled together and cried out, "Baaaaaaaadddd! Baaaaaddd things! You havebad things! We are afraid! You are not sheep!"

The brave sheep stopped, amazed. "But we are your brethren!" they cried. "Weare still sheep, but we do not wish to be food. See, our new teeth and clawsprotect us and have saved us from slaughter. They do not make us intowolves, they make us equal to the wolves, and safe from their viciousness!"

"Baaaaaaad!" cried the flock, "the things are bad and will pervert you, andwe fear them You cannot bring them into the flock!" So the armed sheepresolved to conceal their weapons, for although they had no desire to panicthe flock, they wished to remain in the fold. But they would not return tothose nights of terror, waiting for the wolves to come.

In time, the wolves attacked less often and sought easier prey, for they hadno stomach for fighting sheep who possessed tooth and claw even as they did.Not knowing which sheep had fangs and which did not, they came toleave sheepout of their diet almost completely except for the occasional raid, fromwhich more than one wolf did not return.

Then came the day when, as the flock grazed beside the stream, one sheep'sweapon slipped from the folds of her fleece, and the flock cried out interror again, "Baaaaaad! You still possess these evil things! We must banyou from our presence!"

And so they did. The great chief sheep and his council, encouraged by thewords of their advisors, placed signs and totems at the edges of the pastureforbidding the presence of hidden weapons there. The armed sheep protestedbefore the council, saying, "It is our pasture, too, and we have neverharmed you! When can you say we have caused you hurt? It is the wolves, notwe, who prey upon you. We are still sheep, but we are not food!" But theflock drowned them out with cries of "Baaaaaaddd! We will not hear yourclever words! You and your things are evil and will harm us!"

Saddened by this rejection, the armed sheep moved off and spent their dayson the edges of the flock, trying from time to time to speak with theirbrethren to convince them of the wisdom of having such teeth, but meetingwith little success. They found it hard to talk to those who, upon hearingtheir words, would roll back their eyes and flee, crying "Baaaaddd! Badthings!"

That night, the wolves happened upon the sheep's totems and signs, and said,"Truly, these sheep are fools! They have told us they have no teeth!Brothers, let us feed!" And they set upon the flock, and horrible was thecarnage in the midst of the fold. The dog fought like a demon, and oftenseemed to be in two places at once, but even he could not halt theslaughter.

It was only when the other sheep arrived with their weapons that the wolvesfled, only to remain on the edge of the pasture and wait for the next timethey could prey, for if the sheep were so foolish once, they would be soagain. This they did, and do still.

In the morning, the armed sheep spoke to the flock, and said, "See? If thewolves know you have no teeth, they will fall upon you. Why be prey? To be asheep does not mean to be food for wolves!" But the flock cried out, morefeebly for their voices were fewer, though with no less terror, "Baaaaaaaad!These things are bad! If they were banished, the wolves would not harm us!Baaaaaaad!"

So they resolved to retain their weapons, but to conceal them from theflock; to endure their fear and loathing, and even to protect their brethrenif the need arose, until the day the flock learned to understand that aslong as there were wolves in the night, sheep would need teeth to repelthem.

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